2012 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

SOLD OUT!

I last bottled a Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir in 2008. As I said at the time, once in a while there is a wine that is not quite good enough to put in the top tier, but too good not to bottle. 2012 was a bountiful year, with healthy yields and excellent quality, so I had the opportunity to “cherry pick” the best barrels for my top wines (Hirsch and Habitat) leaving a little bit of wine leftover.  I decided to blend the “leftovers” and put them in a bottle at a very reasonable price. Because these are the bits and pieces of from all my Sonoma Coast lots, this wine received just as much care and attention as the bottles costing twice as much—no corners were cut in the making of this wine.

Because this wine is a blend, I think of it more as an expression of the greater Sonoma Coast, at least the part west of Sebastopol, rather than the reflection of a specific site. The character of Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir in 2012 is somewhat akin to the 2007 vintage—a bit closed at the beginning, perhaps with a touch of tannin. Structurally, the wines definitely speak of a cool vintage, with less fat and more definition. This wine is meant for fun and enjoyment more than contemplation, although as I’ve said elsewhere about other wines, it’s a little bit serious too. 160 cases made.

Tasting Notes pdf

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